HOLLYWOOD SIGHTSEEING Take advantage of the attractions in a city that ranks tourism as its No. 2 industry. Attractions - Things to See and Do in Hollywood, California Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti, Do at the Bowl At the epicenter of Hollywood’s music scene stands the architecturally astounding Hollywood Bowl (2301 N. Highland Ave.; hollywoodbowl.com). Showcasing a vast assortment of musical acts, there is something for every musical taste. Embrace Your Inner Thespian Hollywood is not only known for film, but also for stage performances. Smash hit musicals like “Rent” and “Wicked” have been performed at the Pantages Theatre (6233 Hollywood Blvd.; hollywoodpantages.com). Then, of course, there’s the home of the Academy Awards, the Dolby Theatre (6801 Hollywood Blvd., dolbytheatre.com). Experience the Happening Nightclubs Hollywood is most definitely the nightclub capital. Party like celebrities do, grab a group of friends and visit A-list clubs like Drai’s (6250 Hollywood Blvd.; draishollywood.com), Supperclub (6675 Hollywood Blvd; supperclub.com), and Tru (1600 Argyle Ave; truhollywood.com). From dancing to Jeremih and Pitbull, to drinking those fancy martinis just like Carrie and the girls on “Sex and the City” do, to flirting with that cute bartender with the intriguingly dangerous tattoo, you’re bound to have a fantastic and eventful evening out. Go to the Taping of a Show In the mood to test your knowledge? Go to a taping of “Jeopardy!” Love game shows? See “Wheel of Fortune” live. Fascinated by other people’s problems? Watch Dr. Phil aid crazy mother-in-laws, adulterers, obese toddlers, pregnant teenagers, etc. There are plenty of Web sites offering tickets for free, like tvtix.com. It’s way more entertaining to watch fifth graders outsmart adults live than on your small, dinky television. Have a Dance Party on the Walk of Fame How many people do you know that have had the pleasure of dancing with iconic characters such as Captain Jack Sparrow, Spider-Man or the Grinch? Most likely, not many have. I can tell you from firsthand experience that it is quite the event. It provides fabulous Facebook pictures, is a great topic of conversation to pull out when facing an awkward encounter and you’ll have the good reputation of being the fun and outgoing one of the group. Just watch out for Elmo; he gets kind of touchy. Hollywood Forever Cemetery The oldest Hollywood cemetery and one of the most visited final resting places, Rudolf Valentino, Douglas Fairbanks Sr., Cecil B. De Mille, Jayne Mansfield, Marion Davies, and Tyrone Power are all interred here. You may visit the unusual assortment of grave markers and beautiful stained glass windows by tour only. The cemetery (6000 Santa Monica Blvd.; cinespia.org) shows screenings of classic films; call (323) 469-1181 or visit hollywoodforever.com for more information. A detailed listing of cemeteries can be found at seeing-stars.com/Buried2. Laugh Until It Hurts In a city with so much drama, it’s nice to escape every once and a while. As the saying goes, laughter is the best medicine. So make up for that bad day at work, roommate dilemmas or that heart-wrenching break-up by going to a comedy club like Upright Citizens Brigade (5919 Franklin Ave.; ucbtheatre.com), the Laugh Factory (8001 Sunset Blvd.; laughfactory.com), Second City (6560 Hollywood Blvd.; secondcity.com) or the Groundlings (7307 Melrose Ave., groundlings.com). Lucky Strike Bowling With a luxurious lounge and gourmet Super Bowl Sunday type menu, featuring mac ’n cheese and hot wings, you feel more like you’re in a sophisticated bar. Gigantic TV screens play the hottest new music videos, lights are flashing and to please your artistic side, up-and-coming artists’ work is featured at Lucky Strike (6801 Hollywood Blvd.; bowlluckystrike.com). It provides the perfect ambiance for a bachelor party, girls’ night out or first date. And of course, for terrible bowlers like myself, there is the option of bumpers. If I, the one who throws bowling balls into other lanes by mistake and never breaks into triple digits, enjoyed this bowling experience then you’re bound to have a fabulous time. People Watch on Hollywood Boulevard On any given day you will find a motley group of people strolling through Hollywood: tourists visiting from around the globe, the homeless pleading for spare change, striving actors and musicians, established actors and musicians, the list goes on. I often find myself sitting in Starbucks, wondering about these various walks of life. See the Major Players Visit the iconic Hollywood sign, hang out at Universal Studios (100 Universal City Plaza; universalstudioshollywood.com), go to the Hollywood Wax Museum (6767 Hollywood Blvd., hollywoodwaxmuseum.com), check out haunted locations like the Roosevelt Hotel (7000 Hollywood Blvd.; hollywoodroosevelt.com) or stop by Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (6925 Hollywood Blvd., tclchinesetheatres.com) and compare your hands and feet to classic Hollywood royalty like Frank Sinatra, Shirley Temple, Judy Garland, John Wayne and Marilyn Monroe. Seriously, stop to smell the roses and enjoy the bountiful amount of entertainment Hollywood has to offer. Autry National Center / Museum of the American West Only at the Autry Museum do the many colorful stories of the American West come to life. Discover the legacy of the Lakota and the Osage people and the amazing explorations by Spanish conquistadors and experience the romantic portrayals of the West through art, film, and television. Unique exhibitions arrive every few weeks! Come to the Autry Museum, located just across from the Los Angeles Zoo, where the 5 and 134 Freeways meet. Call (323) 667-2000 or visit theautry.org. ArcLight Cinemas ArcLight is where movie lovers belong. Conceived by and for people who value the art and entertainment of the moving image, ArcLight’s design, amenities, service level and programming create a celebration of movies, and a more refined and complete movie-going experience. ArcLight Hollywood's 14 auditoriums begin with a “black box” design aesthetic which favors undistracted viewing over opulence, and feature the best in sight and sound technology. Also at ArcLight is the Cinerama Dome. Built in 1963 in a giant, white 72 foot-high geodesic, the dome was to feature Cinerama - a wide-screen format of the early 60's, which used three separate 35mm projectors and a vast curved screen to present realistic travelogues. It recently has been showing popular movies utilizing the most up-to-date technology. It is also one of the most identifiable Hollywood landmarks. Each seat is individually reserved and the plush seating makes for a comfortable experience. Get more information at arclightcinemas.com. Capitol Records Building Located at 1750 North Vine Street, this landmark building is one of Hollywood’s most recognized icons. The light on its rooftop spire flashes “Hollywood” in Morse code. In the lobby you will find displayed gold albums of its many artists. John Lennon, Garth Brooks, and other Capitol artists’ stars are on the sidewalk in front of the building. For more information, check out their website at capitolrecords.com. El Capitan Theatre & Entertainment Center Step into Hollywood’s glittering past at the legendary El Capitan Theatre and adjacent 35,000 square foot, seven-room entertainment center. Conveniently located in the heart of Hollywood, the El Capitan was built in 1925 as a legitimate theater. This treasure was restored to its former glory thanks to Disney and Pacific Theatres and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Inside the theater, visitors will experience a restored Wurlitzer Pipe Organ. The theater offers 1,000 seats; a Dolby SR-D, SDDS, and DTS digital capable sound system; and a 22’ x 45’ motion picture screen. The adjoining Entertainment Center can accommodate 1,600 guests. There is also a Disney store on the property at street level. The El Capitan is located at 6838 Hollywood Blvd. For more information, call (818) 845-3110 or visit elcapitan.go.com. American Cinematheque “Forever Hollywood” Movie at the Egyptian Theatre If you are looking to discover or rediscover the unique story of Hollywood and its famous movie industry, this hour-long movie produced by the American Cinematheque and playing at Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre is a must see. Sit back and relax as you learn about the Hollywood community from the early silent pictures to the glittering nightlife to the great studio era. Twenty-three celebrated interviewees such as Steven Spielberg, Kevin Spacey, and Salma Hayek tell about breaking into “the business” and “making it” in the glamorous and competitive movie industry. With shots from more than 75 feature films and set to the theme music of The Bad and the Beautiful, this is an excellent glimpse into Hollywood’s past, right on Hollywood Boulevard. Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre is located at 6712 Hollywood Blvd., between Las Palmas and McCadden Place. For show times, visit www.egyptiantheatre.com. Original Farmers Market and The Grove Located at Third and Fairfax Streets, the Original Farmers Market is a historic landmark. It has been a Los Angeles tradition and a world famous tourist attraction for more than 60 years. September through May hours are Monday through Friday, 9am to 9pm, Saturday from 9am to 8pm, and Sunday, 10am to 7pm. Alongside is The Grove – a relatively new 640,000 square foot development. The Grove features a Pacific Theatres cinema complex, Nordstrom, Gap, and Banana Republic along with the Apple Store, Barnes & Noble, as well as many others. For more information, call (323) 933-9211, or visit www.farmersmarketla.com or www.thegrovela.com. Frederick’s of Hollywood Located at 6751 Hollywood Blvd., Frederick’s of Hollywood is a world famous lingerie shop and museum.